Oil-burning system



w. HQ WINSLOW.

OIL BURNING SYSTEM.-

APPLICATION' FlLED AUG- :2. 1918.

1,399,234, Patented Dec. 6, 1921L 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

SHEET 2.

2 wins- Patented Dec. 6

WINSLOW OIL BURNING SVYSTEM.

HI IMllIlllll 4 I APPLICATION FILED AUG-12. 1918. 1,399,234.

\ m, y m 7 M 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. WINSLOW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WINSLOW SAFETY HIGH-PRESSURE BOILER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

OIL-BURNING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WINsLow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oil-Burning Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompan ing drawings, forming a part of this speci cation.

y invention relates to oil burning systems and more particularly to such systems as are generall employed in connection with steam boilers or vehicles and the like.

I prefer to employ the type of burner known as the vaporizing burner. This type of burner has not been entirely satisfactory heretofore when employed with kerosene as fuel, for the particular reason that kerosene as it appears on the market contains a considerable content of heavier oil that is not distilled or separated out during the refining of petroleum. This heavier constituent does not vaporize so readily as lighter constituents, and tends to form a tarry deposit when highly heated, which deposit clogs up and stops the operation of the burner.

Another reason for the difiiculty is that in devices of this type, the oil must be brought from normal room temperature or below to the vaporizing point within a very small space and usually 1n a short time. As a result there is a tendency to crack the oil and to cause a carbon deposit. The high temperature of the naked flame of the burner is so far above the temperature of vaporization of the oil, that only a small surface canbe employed to vaporize the oil. As a consequence the resultant transfer of heat is very uncertain under the varying conditions to which such a plant is generally subjected.

My invention has been designed to overcome this trouble, and to carry on the vaporization of the oil in a separate chamber and employ the surfaces of the burner proper only as a means for insuring the continuation of the vaporized condition, or to superheat the vapor. Such rocess permits of a separation of the heavier constituents in a separate chamber and localizes the difiicult-y where it can be readily dealt with by drawin ofisuch constituents as they are formed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form in which my invention may appear.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a system employing my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a still. shown in cross section.

In the system illustrated in the drawings, I employ a vaporizing burner to heat a steam boiler, such for instance, as the boiler of a steam automobile. The fuel for the burner is supplied from a tank under air pressure. The oil is fed into a vaporizing chamber or still, which is heated by the steam from the boiler. As the still would become clogged with the heavier residue, I employ a settling tank or storage chamber into which the heavier oil travels by gravity and may be then drawn off as desired. The boiler 1, which may be of any suitable type, is designed to carry a pressure of the order of four or five hundred pounds per square inch, and the steam formed therein, is drawn off as is required for running a vehicle or for other purposes. The temperature of the steam at this pressure is sufficiently high to vaporize the kerosene oil which is fed from the pressure tank '2 to the still or vaporizer 3 and thence to the burner 4:. A pilot burner 5 is also fed from the still 3 and this pilot is preferably constantly in operation to keep the main burner in condition for operation when there is a demand for its action.

The still 3, which is shown in cross section in Fig. 2, comprises an inner tube 6, and an outer sleeve 7 which latter is secured to the inner sleeve at its ends 8 and 9, asby autogenous welding. A chamber is'thus formed between the 1nner and outer sleeve in the shape of a thin annular space. A steam coil 10 is wound around the inner tube 6 with a sheet of asbestos 11, or the like, placed upon the surface of the tube 6 between the coils and the metal of the tube. The upper end of the coil 10 extends out through the sleeve 7 and forms a connection 12 with the steam space of the boiler 1. The lower end of the coil 10 extends out through the sleeve 7 and forms a connection 13 with the boiler 1 preferably below the water level thereof. The entire still 3 is placed as much above the water level as is necessary to secure a fairly rapid circulation of steam therethrough in order to maintain as nearly as possible a constant and even heating of the coil 10. The lower end of the tube 6 is left open so that upon starting the still, the same may be heated by a flame directed upon the interior of the tube 6 as from the torch 14 or from a Prestoliteburner or the like. Theoutside of the still 3 comprises a pairof metal shells 15 and 16. The inner shell 15 is secured to the top of the tube 6 by a number of arms or brackets 17 which allow the gases and products of combustion from the torch 14 to pass up through the tube 6 and down between the starting burner 14. Theshells 15 and 16 also prevent excessive radiatiom The interior 19 of the still communicates by means of a short tube 20 which is connected to the sleeve 7, as by welding, as shown at 21, with the vapor supply pipe 22 which supplies the'burner 4 and the pilot burner 5. The pilot burner 5 is supplied by means of a separate pipe 23 which communicates at all times wit the pi e 22. The pipe 24 which supplies the main urner 4, is controlled by a suitable automatic valve 25 gov erned by the pressure in the boiler 1, the pressure element of this valve being in communication with the boiler by means of the pipe 26. Thus, if the pressure in the boiler 1 exceeds a predetermined value, the main burner 4 is shiit off by the automatic valve air pressure by means 0 25. As a consequence, the temperature of the steam coil 10 in the still 3 is very closely regulated since the pressure and temperature of saturated steam are interdependent quantities.

The lower end of the space 19 communicates by means of the-nipple 27 and the pipe 28 with the bottom of the liquid supply tank 2. The tank 2 is ke t under a head of a suitable pump 29 and this pressure is utilized in feeding the oil through the still and further in injecting air with the vapor into the main burner 4 and the pilot burner 5. The bottom of the space 19 communicates with the settling tank 30 by means of. a pair of pipes 31 and 32, so that as the heavier constituents accumulate in the still 3, they will settle by gravity in the settling tank 30, which is provided with a suitable gage glass 33 and blow-out cock 34 so that the heavier oil may be drawn off when a quantity thereof has accumulated. The tank 30 is preferably of such a size that for a days run, or for a given period of time,the heavier oil, which will be formed, may be stored in the tank 30 without accumulating in the still 3 and passing over into the passages of the burners 4-. and 5.

It is to be understood that this system is devised especially for the burning of fuel oils of the type 'known as kerosene, but I do not intende to confine the invention to such use. The ordinary commercial kerosene when distilled by steam under a pressure of between four and five hundred pounds, contains a residue of fairly heavy oil of between two and three per cent. for a typical sample of oil. It is to be understood that these figures are only approximate and in case the oil is of a pure character, a very small per cent, or practically no residue of non-distillable oil will be formed. The percentage also varies with the temperature at which the distillation is carried on, as well as'with the particular brand of oil which is employed as fuel.

The operation of the system is as follows:

The oil under pressure flows through the pipe 28 into the still 3, tending to fill the space 19. It is to be understood that the various pipes are suitably valved so that the operator may'control the flow of oil at any point. I have omitted showing any such valves for the sake of clearness, although it is to be understood that the same may be employed where desired. Upon starting up 'the burner 14 is employed to heat the still 3 to the point where the oil begins to vaporize. It is to be, understood that the burner 4 is of a character such that suitable vaporizing surfaces are employed therein, these vaporizing surfaces being conventionally illustrated by the vaporizing coil 24' which is coextensive with the pipe 24 and which comprises one or more coils positioned above the urner 4. A portion of the vaporizing coil is preferably disposed adjacent the pilot burner 5 so that it will be kept hot thereby. It will hence be seen that upon initiating the operation of the system and during running, the va or and whatever liquid oil comes to the burner 4, will not pass to the jet of the burner without being first thoroughly vaporized. In case the fuel arrives as a vapor at the burner 4, the heating surfaces of the coil 24 serve merely to super heat the vapor or to dry the same.

As soon .as sufficient pressure has raised in the boiler 1, the steam flowing through the pipes 12, 10, 13 serves to vaporize the oil incoming from the pipe 28. If the pressure in the boiler exceeds a certain predetermined value, the automatic valve 25 operates to cut out the main burner 4 and thus reduce the amount of heat which is given off to the boiler 1. The temperature of the still is thus kept constant as the pressure of the 4 is shut off, either by the automatic valve 25, or is shut off manually, the tendency in the still 3 would be to create an excessive pressure because of the cessation of the flow of vapor therefrom. As a co uence the temperature in the still 3 rises slightly and as soon as the excess pressure is equal to the head of the liquid above the still 3, the oil will be forced out of the still back into the tank 2. This action is very finely balanced and occurs without any marked fluctuation. As a consequence there is a steady feed of vapor to the burners 4 and 5. The pilot burner 5 is preferably constantly in communication with the still 3. The gravity tank 30 may be partially or entirely filled with the liquid fuel but as the heavier oil is formed, the same displaces by gravity the lighter oil which may be contained in the said burner."

tank 30, thus causing the heavier constituents to appear at the bottom of the tank 30. At the end of a run, the tank 30 may be emptied of its contents and thus the heavier constituents are separated out from the oil, and clogging of the burners 4 and 5 'is eliminated.

- I am aware of various schemes for heating the oil under pressure prior to feeding the same to spray burners, but I wish it distinctly understood that the system shown in Fig.1 is not for heating or preheating the liquid as .it is fed as a liquid to the burner 4, but for actually vaporizing the liquid fuel and thus separating out the heavier constit- Quents which cause the clogging of the orifices in a vaporizing burner.

However, I do not intend to limit the particular form of still to employment with a vaporizing burner as it is obvious that this still may be employed with a spray burner or a burner of any type.

I do not intend to be limited to the pre cise details of construction described and illustrated, but intend that the invention be entitled to such equivalents as the state of the art warrants.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a vaporizing burner, a boiler, a supply tank for supplying liquid fuel under pressure, a vaporizing receptacle having steam heated surfaces heated by the steam from said boiler, the steam from said boiler being of sufiicient temperature to vaporize and separate out the lighter and heavier constituents of the fuel, and means for feeding the lighter constituents to said vaporizing burner.

2. In combination, a boiler, a vaporizing burner, a supply tank for supplying liquid fuel under pressure, a vaporizing receptacle having steam heated surfaces heated by the steam from said boiler for vaporizing the fuel for said burner, the steam from said boiler being of suflicient temperature to vaporize and separate out the lighter and heavier constituents, and means for preventin? the heavier. constituents from passing to 3. In combination, a boiler, a vaporizing burner, a source of supply for supplying liquid fuel under pressure, a first heating receptacle for heating the fuel as it is fed from said source of supply, said first heating receptacle having steam heated surfaces heated by steam from said boiler, and a secondheating receptacle heated by said vaporizing burner, said second heating receptacle receiving the fuel from said first heating receptacle and discharging said fuel to said vaporizing burner.

4. In combination .a boiler, a burner for heating said boiler, a pilot burner for said main burner, a liquid fuel supply tank having means for supplying said liquid fuel under pressure, a vaporizing still for receiving said liquid fuel and for vaporizing the same, a steam coil supplied with steam from said boiler, and a settling tank in communication with said still.

5.*In combination a boiler, a burner for heating said boiler, a liquid fuel supply tank for supplying fuel under pressure, a still, a steam coil for heating said still, said steam coil being connected to said boiler and an auxiliary burner for initiating the operation of said still.

6. In combination a boiler, a main burner, a pilot burner for said main burner, a liquid fuel supply tank, a vaporizing still for vaporizing said liquid fuel, a steam coil communicating with said boiler for heat ing said still, and an auxiliary burner for initiating the operation of said still.

'ZJIn combination, a boiler, a burner for heating the boiler, a still, a steam coil for heating said still, means for supplying liquid fuel under pressure to said still, means for delivering vapor from the still to the burner, and a settling chamber in communication with the bottom of said still.

8. In combination, a boiler, a burner for the boiler, a vaporizing still, a steam coil for heating said still, means for supplying liquid fuel under pressure to the bottom of said still, connection between the top of the still and the burner for delivering vapor thereto, a settling chamber in communication with the bottom of said still, and an auxiliary burner for initiating the operation of said still. 3

9. In combination a boiler, a main burner therefor, a pilot burner, a still for supplying vapor to saidburner, means for supplying liquid fuel under pressure to said still, a. steam coil communicating with said boiler for heating said still, and an automatic pressure control valve for governing said main burner.

10. In combination, a boiler, a burner for heating the boiler, a liquid fuel tank having means for supplying liquid fuel under pressure, a vaporizer for said liquid fue interposed between the tank and the burner and having a chamber for receiving said liquid fuel under pressure, a steam coil heating said chamber and supplied with steam from said boiler, and a settling tank in communication with said chamber;

11. In combination, a boiler, a burner for heating the boiler, a liquid fuel su ply tank having means for supplying liqui fuel under pressure, a vaporizer for the fuel interposed between the burner, and the tank and having a chamber for the liquid fuel, said chamber surrounding a central flue an auxiliary burner for projecting a flame into, said central flue for initiatin action of said vaporizer, and a steam co' heating said chamber and supplied with steam from said boiler.

12. In a fuel burner, a vapor burner, a liquid fuel supply tank having means for supplying liquid fuel under pressure, a,

vaporizer interposed between the tank and the burner, means for heating the vaporizer, and means for removing the unvaporize residue from the vaporizer. 

